Cream-separator and churn.



A. FAY.

CREAM SEPARA'I'OR AND OHURN.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.26,1911.

1,020,814, Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HIRE

A. FAY.

CREAM SEPARATOR AND CHURN.

APPLICATION FILED 11110. 26, 1911.

1,020,814, Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'oNiTED strArEs PATENT orricn.

ALPHEUS FAY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CREAM-SEPARATOR AND CHURN.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALPI-IEUS FAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Cream-Separator and Churn, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for the performance of such processes in connection with the treatment of cream, milk or butter as require either mechanical agitation or aeration, or both.

The processes to which my invention is most applicable will hereinafter be more fully described.

My object also is to simplify the construction of apparatus of this character, and to add to its elliciency and durability.

My invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement, as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the lower bearing for the agitator shaft and its mounting. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the outlet strainer. Fig. st is a perspective view, enlarged, of the agitator, with part of its shaft. Fig. 5 is a similar view of part of the upper member of the agitator, in an incomplete stage of its formation; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower member, in a like stage. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of said lower member completed, ready for assemblage with the upper member.

In my present invention, the device is characterized by the combination of a rotated agitator and a stationary brake to coact therewith.

The agitator 1 is of such design as to produce a centrifugal impelling effect on the liquid, and is mounted on a shaft 2, journaled and supported in a bracket 3, mounted to extend over the open top of the vessel 1, in a suitable manner, to be later described. The transverse shaft 5, journaled in the bracket 3, has the bevel gear 5*, and the agitator shaft 2 has a bevel pinion 2 meshing with the gear 5. Preferably, as shown, the transverse shaft 5 extends over the upper end of the agitator shaft 2 and carries its gear 5 outside the pinion 2. This constitutes the larger bevel Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 26, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 667,781.

gear a shield against entanglement of any object between the gear and pinion where they mesh, thus adding to the safety of operation of the device.

It is important that the pinion be accurately adjusted to the gear at all times, even after they have become worn. To effect such adjustment in a simple manner, I provide the lower bearing 2" for the shaft 2 to be detached from the bracket 3, and secure it to the bracket, through its hub 2, by a screw 2', and provide a series of washers 2 between the hub and the adjacent part of the bracket 3. Thus, as the gears wear, the number of washers may be reduced, bringing the pinion toward the gear. The upper bearing 2 has enough space above the end of the shaft 2, inside, to allow this approach of the pinion, which, of course, is suitably rigidly secured on the shaft.

The shank 3" of the downwardly projected part 3 of the bracket, for practical reasons, is of circular cross-section, as is also the opening in the hub 2 that receives it. This means of attachment alone would permit turning of the bearing 2 on its mounting, which would be detrimental to the meshing of the gears. I avoid this by providing the part 3 with a straight-faced lug 3", and providing the hub 2" with an outward and upward extension 2 to embrace the lug 3, and having a straight face to engage accurately with the straight face of said lug 3". Such a fitting may be produced economically, and, when the screw 2 which takes into the lower end of the shank 3 is drawn tightly against the hub 2 the assembled parts are firmly secured, both against downward displacement 'and against turning. arm 2" which connects the hub 2 to the bearing 2, proper, is curved, as shown, and the hub lies higher than does the bearing proper, so that the extension 3 on the bracket is of moderate length.

The vessel 1 is supported on a base 13, which has a standard 13 at one side, with a head 13 having a socket to receive the shank 3 of the bracket 3, that extends down from a hub 3", connected to the bracket part 3, proper, by an arm 3. The lower part of this hub 3 is of enlarged format-ion, and the head 13 has a ledge 13" extended toward the vessel to correspond with the enlargement of the hub 3 and aflord ample bearing surface to Preferably, the

prevent deflection of the bracket with respect to the standard. The head and the hub have corresponding offsets 13 and 3, respectively, that fit together to prevent turning of the bracket on the standard, as would be the case if the round shank 3 in its round socket were depended on alone. A screw 13 takes up through the lower partof the head into the shank and binds the parts firmly together. The standard 13 is bifurcated below the head, and the screw 13 is applied within the space thus formed in the standard. The part 3 of the bracket is also of bifurcated formation from one bearing 5 of the shaft 5 to the other, and the lower member of this bifurcated formation supports the extension 3 before described. The upper member, over the shaft 5, is preferably widened, as shown, to afford a rest for the hand, to hold the entire device stationary when it is operated by turning the crank 6 which the shaft 5 has.

The brakes 7 that co-act with the agitator 1 are each composed of upright strips, preferably of wood, lying against the sides of the vessel 4, and having their upper parts secured to the vessel by clips 7 a taking over the rim of the vessel. Each clip is of U- shaped formation to embrace the cross-section of the brake-strip, with each member of such formation bent down to engage over the rim. Such clips are conveniently formed of wire.

I vice is applicable.

Each brake-strip is narrower throughout its middle region, with wider end parts, above and below, so that such middle regions lie away from the sides of the Vessel. Also, these middle regions are perforated, by a series of holes '7 bored therein. Thus, the spaces between these regions and the vessel sides, and these perforations, afford an added agitating effect on the liquid impelled against the brakes by the agitators.

As shown, the brake 7 at the left extends completely to the bottom of the vessel and makes intimate contact therewith, thus affording suflicient stability to the lower part of the brake. Both brakes may be so arranged; but, as illustrated, the brake at the right has combined with it a hollow foot 7 with walls presented in three directions inside the vessel, but open on its side next to the wall of the vessel, said opening lying over the exit that is provided through the spigot 1 to withdraw liquid from the vessel. The walls of this foot are perforated by a series of holes 7 so that the foot thus forms a strainer over the outlet, to allow passage of liquid, but to retain the finely divided products of the operation, in solid form, as will be set forth in the subsequent description of the processes to which the de- In accordance with the provision of this strainer-foot on the brake at-the right, the brake-strip itself is shortened, and the upper parts of the side walls of the foot are drawn together, closely embracing the lower part of the strip, like a ferrule. The bottom of the strainer-foot fits tightly against the bottom of the vessel, to, prevent leakage of the products men tioned, as well as to afford proper stability to the bottom of the brake, as above alluded to.

The agitator 1 comprises the tubular shaft 1 and upper member 1, integrally formed, as here shown, and a lower member 1 attached to the member 1. The tubular shaft is provided with a hub 1, also preferably ntegral with it, and joining it by arms 1 so that the upper end of said tubular shaft is left open for the admission of air. The hub 1 is secured to the shaft 2 by a set screw, so that the entire agitator is supported thereby and may be adjusted up or down on the shaft. It is to allow such adjustment of the agitator upward on the shaft that the bracket 3 is of upwardly curved formation, as shown, it being desirable to allow the open upper end of the tubular shaft 1 to reach above the level of the rim of the vessel 1-, at its highest adjustment, whereby liquid may reach a level close to the rim without overflowing the upper end of the tubular shaft, where such height of the liquid in the vessel may be desirable. Each member 1 or 1 of the agitator 1 consists in a plane body part 1*" or 1 respectively, with triangular parts 1 or 1, respectively, bent at right angles to their respective body parts, at intervals therearound, with intervening straight parts 1 or 1 of the periphery of said body part left intact and exposed, as is best shown in Fig. at. These lower and upper members, thus formed, are assembled inversely, with the triangular parts of one embracing those of the other. Preferably, the upper one has said parts embracing the corresponding parts of the lower one, so that there will be no lodgment of solid particles, as of butter, between the parts. The members are secured together by passing bent-over points 1 of the triangles 1 on the upper member 1 through slots 1 in the triangles 1 of the lower member 1, and passing similar points 1 on the lower member 1 through similar slots 1" in the upper member. The result of such assemblage of these parts is a box-like agitator of polygonal form, some of the sides of which are closed and the others open. On account of the triangular shape of the parts 1 and 1 the closed sides will lack triangular regions which merge with the open sides and thus add to the area of the openings from the interior of the agitator, which these open sides constitute.

By providing the series of slots 1 and 1, respectively, in the triangular parts of the upper and lower members, in vertical alinement, the distance between the plane body parts of the members may be varied, it only being necessary to insert the points of the triangles into correspondingly different slots.

The upper member has a free, unobstructed opening from the interior of the tubular shaft 1 around the shaft 2, to allow ready circulation of air, from the open upper end of the tubular shaft down into the interior of the agitator, but the lower member fits snugly around the shaft, and thereby serves to support the agitator at its lower end, to maintain it concentric with its shaft.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the upper member 1 is cast integral with the tubular shaft 1, Without the triangular parts 1 being bent down, and these are afterward bent down at the places indicated by the dotted lines. The slots 1 may have been cored therein, or may have been punched, before the bending. Such method of constructing this part of the device is convenientwhen a metal is used that is malleable when cast, as aluminum, which is generally suitable for the purpose in the device. The lower member, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be conveniently formed of sheet metal, as aluminum, having its central opening for the shaft, and its slots 1' punched in it, and then having its triangular parts 1 bent up at the places indicated by the dotted lines. Also, it will be understood that the points 1 or 1 may be bent accordingly, on either of the parts. Likewise, it may be practicable to cast either or both parts completely formed, or the member 1 may be made separate from the tubular shaft 1 and then suitably secured thereto. However, the closed sides of the box-like agitator being straight, and therefor presenting their surfaces against the liquid as the agitators rotate, an impelling action is exerted, forcing the liquid away from the exteriors of said sides and producing a partial vacuum in the hollow interior, so that a flow of air, before mentioned, is induced down into the hollow interior of the agita' tor. Thus, the air drawn into said interior, mixing with the liquid drawn therefrom, will be carried-out into the main body of liquid in the vessel. A circulation of liquid and air will thus be set up in the liquid, amounting to a combined aerating and mechanical agitation. The brakes 7 compel this action by preventing the whirling of the main body of liquid, and by breaking up the currents, through the spaces and perforations before described. It is desirable that this breaking up of the currents be distributed into such various orifices as these spaces and perfo ations afford, so that there is thorough collision of the liquid particles, and of the air particles with the liquid particles.

The consequence of the operation is that the entire contents of the vessel are brought into a state of ebullition, or bubbling, resembling the appearance of boiling, although of course no such temperature is ever used in butter-treating processes, as boiling temperature is well known to be injurious to all milk products. It is by the utilization of the effects of boiling or ebullition, in a mechanical way, without entailing the injurious effects of heat, that some of the more important results of the processes to be described are reached. By adjusting the lower member from the upper one, the effect of the agitator may be varied to suit the use to which the apparatus is applied. It will be observed that the impelling effect is produced by means of peripherally located means only, leaving the interior of the agitator smooth and unobstructed; also that the openings constituted by the open sides of the polygonal agitator are themselves polygonal, having, specifirally, horizontal upper and lower sides and angular lateral sides, so that the width of a respective opening is greater at its middle, midway between the upper and lower plane body portions 1 and 1, respectively, than at its top or bottom, adjacent the body portions. The effect of an opening of such shape is to cause a congestion of the outward flow of liquid andair from the interior of the agitator, in the plane surrounding the middle region, between the upper and lower plane body parts, due to the greater outflow from the widened parts of the openings. This results in a more intimate intermingling of the liquid and air particles, adding to the con'lpleteness of the aeration while allowing undiminished mechanical agitation by the upper and lower widened regions of the triangular parts 1 and 1, forming the closed sides.

For separating and churning, fresh, sweet milk is placed in the vessel, nearly filling it, the agitator 1 being in its uppermost position, bringing the impeller members of the agitator about midway of the depth of the liquid. The milk is then agitated by the centrifugal impelhng action above described, inducing the air currents throughout the body of the milk and producing cbullition, which thoroughly aerates the milk. The milk is preferably introduced at a temperature of from 10 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the air entering the milk is of atmospheric teu'iperature, or about 60 to degrees Fahrenheit. After the milk has been agitated and aerated in the above manner for about five or ten minutes, the agitation is discontinued and the liquid allowed to rest for a few minutes, during which the separation of the cream from the milk will become complete, and the cream will have risen to the top of the vessel. Then the skimmed milk is drawn off, leaving the separated cream. By varying the volume of skimmed milk drawn off, the cream may be left with any desired propor tion of butter fat. Then the desired proportion of skimmed milk has been drawn off, the agitation is resumed to churn the cream, the agitator 1 being lowered to properly operate on the reduced quantity of liquid. The temperature of the cream will by this time have risen to approximately that of the atmosphere, or from to degrees Fahrenheit, and the churning agitation and aeration at this temperature is continued until the butter is separated from the cream, which will ordinarily require from three to five minutes. The butter will now be ready for washing, and will be distinct from the residue, the butter being in its solid state, but divided into granular particles approximating the granules of ordinary granulated sugar, and the residue being in a uniformly liquid state. This residue is now drawn off, through the spigot 4, the strainer 7 preventing the escape of the butter granules, and a suitable quantity of pure water added, preferably at from 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The granulated butter is now agitated and aerated in this body of cool water, increasing the thorough ness of separation of the residue. This body of water, contaminated by the residue thus separated, is drawn off, and fresh water added, continuing the agitation and areation, and such repeated application of cool water and agitation and aeration are continued until the water withdrawn shows no more trace of the residue. This indicates that a most complete separation of residue from the butter has been accomplished. After the last of the washing water has been withdrawn, the granular mass of butter in the vessel is ready for salting, preparatory to working the butter into the solid consistency that it is to have in use.

For salting the butter, a solution is prepared of substantially a pint of salt to a gallon of water and applied to the butter gigtnules in the vessel at a temperature of from 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or about the temperature of the water that was used in washing. The agitation and aeration is again resumed,preferably at reduced speed, for about thirty to sixty seconds. Such aeration and agitation brings salt particles into intimate relation with every particle of the granular butter. On completion of the agitation of the granules and solution, the salt solution may be withdrawn, leaving that which has become incorporated with the granular mass, which, now thoroughly salted, with great homogeneity, is taken from the vessel and drained and worked to the proper useful consistency in any suitable and well known manner. The purpose of using the washing water, and the salt solution, at relatively low temperature, is to maintain a desirable hardness of the butter granules throughout the washing and salt ing operations, which results in a finished product of great fineness of texture, after the final working.

For conveniently removing the butter, the bracket 3 may be removed from the apparatus, along with the agitator and its shaft, as may also the brakes 7, leaving the entire interior of the vessel freely accessible, or allowing the vessel to be also removed from the base. Thus, cleaning, after the operation, is greatly facilitated; also the agitators may have their members separated, allowing them to be thoroughly cleaned. If desired, the residue from the churning and the skimmed milk that had been withdrawn after the separating operation may be placed together in the vessel, and the agitator and brakes again introduced, to thoroughly agitate and aerate them, intimately mixing them, and producing a good serviceable fresh, sweet milk, with all the natural flavors of fresh sweet milk, and with all of its solids, except the butter fats.

To produce a high grade of buttermilk, the skimmed milk and the churning residue may be mixed and allowed to sour, before agitating and aerating, reaching the condition of clabber. Then when agitated and aerated in the apparatus, a good quality of finely aerated buttermilk results. The souring may be facilitated by the use of a suitable ferment. The above souring may also be eifected with the use of the skimmed milk alone, allowing it to reach the condition of clabber, and then agitating it and aerating it. Such treatment of skimmed milk alone is of advantage when the cream therefrom has not been used for making butter, leaving no residue for mixture with the skimmed milk. In operating on clabher, the agitators should be adjusted so that they offer as little resistance as possible; such agitators, made of thin material, are especially suitable for this purpose.

A poor quality of butter may be operated upon, to improve it, by the use of my invention, placing such butter in a suitable amount of pure water in the vessel and agitating and aerating it in the above described manner, but at a temperature of not more than 50 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The but ter may be granulated to permit a most efficient purifying action of the air thereon, and of the water, which may be withdrawn and fresh water supplied, as required; the entire operation results in the production of butter granules in a neutral state and with their impurities eliminated.- The neutral granules may then be removed and salted and worked and otherwise treated according to good practice in the production and marketing of palatable fresh butter,

with which it is identical. desired, the butter granules above alluded to may be miXed with sweet milk to produce a high quality of cream of any desired percentage of fatty constituents, thoroughly fresh, sweet and pure, and adaptable for all the purposes that good cream is used for. This combined aeration and agitation will produce a fine quality of whipped cream, from a cream of comparatively low percentage of butter fats, with an operation of only from three to five minutes. Usually, a cream to be whipped must be rich in butter fats, to attain the desired peculiar fluffy consistency, but the effective aeration caused by the ebullition set up in the liquid by my apparatus allows the same results to be had with a decided economy. For whipping,

cream, the agitator should have its members adjusted so that it is widest open, and the agitator should be rotated at high speed. My apparatus is well adapted for pro ducing homogeneized dairy products, as preparations to be used as butter, or as oleomargarm, or as butterm.

case of butterin, the lard, should be taken in equal quantity by weight, with the milk,

and the mixture placed in the vessel with the milk at a temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the fatty ingredient,

butter, oleomargarin, or lard, as the case may be, at any of the usual temperatures.

Then heat should be applied to the vessel, as by placing it over a stove or burner, sufficient heat being provided to raise the temperature of the mixture in the vessel to, about 90 degrees Fahrenheit in about three During this three minutes, the. agitation and aeration, by ebullition, are kept up in the mixture, and at the end of' the time, the butter. or oleomargarin, or}

minutes.

lard, as the case may be, will be found to have merged with the milk into a single; homogeneous mass, havmg the characteristics of the butter, or of oleomargarin, or of butterin, as the case may be, and well adapted for use as such by the user of the When properly labeled, this apparatus. homogenelzed article also becomes a marketable product. In any case 1t allows marked economy, since the cost of the resultant Furthermore, if

In either case, the butter, or the oleomargarin, or, 1n the Such homogeneized uses will be suggested in the employment of my invention, and divers minor modifications may occur in such adaptation; there fore I do not wish to be understood as lim iting myself to the precise details herein illustrated and described, but

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, an upright shaft, a transverse shaft, and gears on the respective shafts meshing together, a main bracket having bearings for the transverse shaft and having a downward extension adjacent to the upright shaft and a bearing for the upper part of said upright shaft, a shank on the extension, a lower bearing for the upright shaft, abutting the gear thereon, a hub on said lower bearing fitting on said shank, removable spacing means between the hub and the part of the extension around the shank, and means for securing said lower bearing, by its hub, on said extension against said spacing means, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, a bracket, an extension thereon and a shank on the extension of circular cross-section, a detachable bearing comprising a hub with an opening to fit on the shank, removable spacing means between the hub and the extension around the shank, a straight-faced lug on the extension, and an extension on the hub having a straight face to engage with the lug and prevent turning of the detachable bearing, and means for securing said bearing and said bracket together.

In. a device of the character described, as a new article of manufacture, a detachable bearing comprising the bearing proper, a hub with an opening of circular cross-section, an arm joining the bearing proper and the hub, and an extension on the hub having a straight face toward the opening, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator with a plane top and a plane bottom, alternating closed and open sides, and means for adjusting the distance between the top and bottom, thereby adjusting the areas of said open and closed sides, for the purposes described.

In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising a plane top and a plane bottom, and alternating closed and open sides between said top and bottom, the openings of said open sides being polygonal.

6. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising a plane top and a plane bottom, closed sides formed by overlapping triangular parts, and open sides defined by the top and bottom and the closed sides thus formed, whereby the open sides are polygonal.

7. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising a plane top and a plane bottom, closed sides formed by overlapping triangular parts, and open sides defined by the top and bot-tom and the closed sides thus formed, and adjustable attaching means between said triangular parts.

8. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper member and a lower member, each consisting in a plane body part with triangular parts bent at right angles to the body parts leaving intervening exposed edges intact on said body part, and said members being inversely assembled with the triangular parts meeting each other and forming closed sides of the agitator, and the intervening exposed edges defining, with the edges of the triangular parts, polygonal open sides of the agitator.

9. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper member and a lower member, each consisting in a plane body part with triangular parts bent at right angles to the body parts leaving intervening spaces, and said members being inversely assembled with the triangular parts of the upper member embracing those of the lower member.

10. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper and a lower member, each having a plane body part with triangular parts integral therewith and at right angles thereto, leaving intervening spaces, said members being inversely assembled with the triangular parts meeting, and the triangular parts having slots and having parts to enter slots, the parts of each triangle entering the slots of the triangle which it meets.

11. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper and a lower member, each having a plane body part with triangular parts integral therewith and at right angles thereto, leaving intervening spaces, said members being inversely assembled with the triangular parts meeting, each triangle having a series of slots and having a part to enter a slot, the point of each triangle being adapted to enter any one of the series of slots in the triangle it meets, to hold said members in adjusted positions.

12. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper and a lower member, each having a plane body part with triangular parts integral therewith and at right angles thereto, leaving intervening spaces, said members being inversely assembled with triangular parts. meeting, the triangles of one member having slots, and the triangles of the other member having parts to enter the slots.

13. In a device of the character described, a hollow agitator comprising an upper and a lower member, each having a plane body part with triangular parts integral there with and at right angles thereto, leaving intervening spaces, said members being inversely assembled with triangular parts meeting, the triangles of one member each having a series of slots, and the triangles of the other member having parts to enter any one of the corresponding slots, to adjust the members toward or from each other.

14. In a device of the character described, an agitator member formed of an equilateral rectangular flat body having triangular parts bent at right angles to an octagonal plane body part, with intact edges of said body part exposed in intervening spaces between the triangular parts.

15. Ina device of the character described, an agitator member formed of an equilateral angular fiat body having triangular parts bent at right angles, to a polygonal plane body part, with intact edges of said body part exposed in intervening spaces bet-ween the triangular parts.

16. In a device of the character described, an agitator member formed of an equilateral angular flat body having triangular parts bent at right angles to a polygonal plane part, with intact edges of said body part exposed in intervening spaces between the triangular parts, each triangular part hav ing its free point bent at an angle to'the triangular part, and having a slot adapted to receive such point.

17 In a device of the character described, an agitator member comprising, integrally formed, a tubular shaft with a hub at one end attached thereto and leaving said end open, and an equilateral fiat body having triangular parts bent at right angles to a polygonal plane body part, with intact edges of said body part exposed in intervening spaces between the triangular parts, said triangular parts extending down, and said tubular shaft extending up, from said plane body part, and the tubular shaft opening through said body part andbeing located centrally thereof.

18. In a device of the character described, a brake-strip, and a hollow foot therefor, having perforated sides and an open side, said perforated sides having upward extensions drawn together and embracing the strip and forming a ferrule therefor.

ALPHEUS FAY.

Witnesses CLARENCE PERDEW, W. MOGLINMEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

